Living in this “tech” world

Back in the day things were done manually. Students would go to libraries for their homework, letters were mailed abroad manually, pagers/ beepers was a form of instant messaging and etc. Thanks to modern technology we can enjoy the internet, wifi, Bluetooth and etc. Everything is accessible with one click away. The internet is also known as the “information highway” where in you can search ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you want to know about.

I was born in a time where phone pals and pagers/beepers was still a big hit. Everyone would be sending love quotes through pagers, our “ate’s” and “kuya’s” would stay at the phone for hours and our mom’s and “tita’s” would have huge and bushy hairs. (Those were the days!) I cannot imagine today without the help of the internet. All these: “YM, YOUTUBE, FRIENDSTER, MYSPACE” etc GONE??? It’s like stealing a candy from a baby, I personally cannot live without these things. I have to check my mail everyday, check who is online, regularly check my on my comments on “friendster” and etc. It has truly changed my life! It became a necessity and a daily habit that I cannot live without.

The one thing that I hate about the fast growing pace of technology is it makes us humans lazy. Everything is given and as if the spoon is an inch away from our mouth, all you had to do is to move your head a little bit and bite into it. Example, a cellphone that can do anything (Nokia 95) it’s like having your computer with you, but it’s in your hands. Everything is possible at the tip of you fingertips. Many of us tend to rely on these technologies, yes it help but I think we should use these things in moderation. Like in research, is there are books available try and make use of them. It helps build vocabulary and you may gain more knowledge. Not like when you’re using the internet, some reading materials are missing and they tend to give false details. Because in the internet remember, that ANYBODY can post anything and everything they want!

Modern technology will continue to change, upgrades after upgrades we must learn to “go with the flow” because it is us who will suffer in the long run. All these gadgets that we dearly love are there and will continue to improve and make man’s work a lot easier. There will come a time that we humans don’t even have to work because we have robots to replace us. But with all these constant changes, we must keep in mind that we must use these things with discipline. Technology may be fun and it could make our lives much easier but remember that this can also destroy our lives in just a split second. Hackers are very aware of your every move, viruses in your computer are just around the corner. All of these things are threats in the “technology” world. We must learn to use these things carefully and use them with great discipline.

An interview with Mr. William Gan

(Mr. Gan with his amazing staff)

I recently had the chance to interview the owner of W.G. DINER (Mr. William Gan). He was courteous enough to entertain my questions and answer them with strong convictions and with such enthusiasm. This place is no fine dinning restaurant or a place for foie gras and truffles. Just plain old comfort food is what they specialize in. From western to eastern they have everything! These are the kinds of foods your mother or even your grandmother used to cook for you. And so I was very fortunate enough to sit down with the owner and learn the tips of the trade (The dinning area)

Q: Mr. Gan, why the restaurant business?

A: “I chose the restaurant business because it has easy cash flow, it may be a risky business but you just have to prove yourself to everyone and stand out among all competitors”

Q: What do you like the most about your job?

A: “I love serving people, getting to know them and making them happy”

Q: How do you keep your staff intact? (The Bar)

A: “I treat them like my customers. I pamper them once in a while and give each and everyone special attention. I test them once and a while to check and see how they serve our customers”

Q: Where do you see you business 15 yeas from now?

A: “A huge restaurant chain and owns about 10 more branches both local and provincial”

Q: Who is your target market? (Dinning @ W.G. Diner)

A: “I usually cater to the middle class people”

Q: How would you describe your restaurants compared to others?

A: “We are more personal when it comes to customers. I try to get to know each and everyone of my customers well”

Q: What is your vision mission? (The W.G chicken)

A: “HARD WORK! And always believe in what you are doing”

Q: How did you come up with your business?

A: “I started my business long time ago in Malate I had the same concept and the next thing I knew I already had 3 restaurants up and running”

Q: Where does the love of food come from?

A: “I’ am really not a food lover I just love the business so much!”

Q: Are you a chef? (W.G Special Kangkong)

A: “I always wanted to be one, but no I am not”

Q: What are your specialties?

A: “I specialize on western foods, pizzas and pasta’s are a big hit”

Q: Where does the inspiration come from?

A: “The customers, they give me life and they make me happy”

Q: How many branches do you have?

A: “I have 3. One in Makati, then Shaw Boulevard, and my newest venture Palawan, Coron”

(W.G. DINER @ SHAW. BLVD)

This experience talking to Mr. Gan was amazing! It’s like a head start on what to expect in the restaurant business. It’s not all “glitz and glamour” in order for you to get there you have to work strenuous hours, love the business 110%, and believe in yourself. It will be really hard for the first couple of years, a lot of investments here and there, but once you have surpassed that, the rewards are endless.

As a restaurateur, Mr. William Gan is already an icon in the business. He may not be popular for you but, trust me! His works will speak for its self. What I love about this man is his enthusiasm and passion in his business. He treats it as his “babies” and always makes it a point to check his other branches once in while. He never fails to make a customer feel happy. His staffs are well trained and very hospitable they are very versatile when it comes to events. Just tell them what you want and they will do it for you right then and there!

This restaurant never fails to amaze me! A restaurant that has everything, from a clothes store to a bar! The possibilities are endless with W.G Dinner. What’s good with this restaurant and all their other branches is it is very accessible. Commute friendly and open 24/7. If cheap food is what you want then cheap yet delicious food is what you get. Prices range from P80 to P300 and that’s already good for sharing. I believe in the saying “to see is to believe” and so what are you waiting for? Visit any W.G. diner and I promise you good food and good value for your money.

“Barok English”is not a mangling of language rather a manifestation of Pinoy humor.

Have you ever heard of the word “Barok English”? It sure sounds funny, but yes! Ladies and gentlemen there is such a thing as “Barok English”. ‘Barok English” also known as “Carabao English” or “broken English” are scraps of English words tied together.

(http://kchanneluap.blogspot.com/2008/01/ua-knowledge-channel-ang-estudyanteng.html) another definition is, “Carabao english” is the connotation that is more or less refers to broken English. (http://georgedelapaz.blogspot.com/2007/10/carabao-english.tml, Jayred, October 10, ’07, 5:05am)Here are some examples: “I ran into some errands”, “First and for all”, “Let’s give them a big hand of applause”, “Well well well. Look do we have here!”, “What are friends are for?”, ““Where’d you came from?”, “It’s as brand as new” and etc. (http://butchito.multiply.com/journal/item/24/oh_shocks..._the_best_of_carabao_english._, Aug 7, '07, 9:13 PM) these are just some of the words we often hear and sometimes we actually think that these words are correct. It may be funny but we should correct the person who said it in order for him/her to learn to say the correct word.
Many of us Filipinos have this “sickness” we think that we pronounce certain words correctly but, the sad truth is, it is wrong. A good example was when I was in a doughnut store and I was having a hard time choosing on what doughnut I should get, so I asked the sales clerk “Is there anything new from your selection of doughnuts?”, and the sales clerk said “sir! Meron po! Try nyo ang babarian donat namin” At first I couldn’t get what he was saying, it was garbled and I couldn’t get it but I bought the doughnut believing it was called “barbarian donat”. Luckily I had a friend who was with me and he told me it was pronounced Bavarian doughnuts. Then I said to myself, Wow! “Yan ang Barok English!”

“Barok English” is growing and is still continuing to grow. It is very disturbing now that call centers are booming here in the Philippines. We cannot present ourselves well if we speak “Barok English” Yes! We speak English but we don’t speak it correctly. We must know what we are saying and if what we are saying is correct. If we are able to achieve this, then we can boast our English skills against other foreign countries. So better READ, READ, and READ!

According to the NIDCD (National institute of deafness and other communication disorders)”The most intensive period of speech and language development for humans is during the first three years of life, a period when the brain is developing and maturing. These skills appear to develop best in a world that is rich with sounds, sights, and consistent exposure to the speech and language of others.” (Speech and Language Developmental Milestones, NIH Publication No. 00-4781, April 2000, http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/speechandlanguage.asp)

This means that the child at an early age already has an idea on what you are saying. In just 36 months the child must be able to do the following: “Use pronouns (I, you, me) correctly, Knows at least three prepositions, (usually in, on, under), Knows chief parts of body and should be able to indicate these if not name, Handles three word sentences easily, Has in the neighborhood of 900-1000 words, Verbs begin to predominate, Understands most simple questions dealing with his environment and activities, Relates his experiences so that they can be followed with reason, Able to reason out such questions as "what must you do when you are sleepy, hungry, cool, or thirsty?" Should be able to give his sex, name, age,” (Language development in children, http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/language_development.shtml)

In the Philippines, many of today’s parents don’t have the time to take care of their kids and so they hire a “yaya”. They leave the baby with her and so the “yaya” teaches the baby new things, like how to say “dada” or “mama”. In the long run when the baby grows up, he/she identifies the “yaya” as his/her mother. The baby will start to learn from her, her traits, the way she thinks, and even the way she talks. This only shows that when a “yaya” is practicing “Barok English”, the child absorbs it as well. And when the time the child is in school he/she has already developed “Barok English”. Instead of saying the word confirm, he/she will say “con-feerm” or “conpirm”. Fifty pesos becomes “pifty pesos”. WHY???

“Part of the problem is the lack of proficiency of the teachers. They also do not master the language themselves aside form the fact that there is a lack of educational materials” (UA&P knowledge channel: Ang estudyanteng Pilipino/ the Filipino student, Thursday, January 17, 2008, http://kchanneluap.blogspot.com/2008/01/ua-knowledge-channel-ang-estudyanteng.html) Another problem is the books used in school. Some publishers are just so obsessed with earning money that they publish books that are grammatically wrong. From the title, to the page number, even publishing a book without any license. TRULY ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!

Using “Barok English” is not so bad at all. It may be improper to use during formal meetings but hey! Look on the bright side. Many of our famous comedians are using “Barok English” to make their jokes more interesting, more fun, and they get the audiences attention. Because when these comedians perform they act as if they are trying so hard to fit pieces of English words and fit it all in one sentence. It’s really funny how they do it. And we are laughing because we know what the correct word to use. We get entertained because someone is speaking in “Barok English” yet he/she is not affected whether what he/she is saying is correct or not.

We Filipinos being the fun loving and happy persons that we are, we are still one of the happiest country in the world. According to (http://happyplanetindex.org/map.htm) the Philippines is the 17^th happiest country in the world. With Vanuatu being the 1^st and in Asia according to (http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/uploads/dl44k145g5scuy453044gqbu11072006194758.pdf) we are the 4^th happiest country, with Vietnam being the 1^st. This only shows that no matter what the problem is, we still keep are cool and remain happy.

Others may think that “Barok English” shows us Filipinos being illiterate in language but think of it this way, it may be a negative outcome but due to the ingenuity of Filipinos we turned our flaws to a laughing matter. And now, we are becoming more popular the Philippines is getting recognized across the world. As positive thinkers we become more structured as a person, a mere negativity is nothing! We immediately stand up and regain our balance. Our negativities are turned into possibilities, what used to be a mistake is now a source of livelihood. “Barok English” has truly changed the world of comedy.

Gone were the days of Jimmy Santos, his jokes are no longer a hit but because of him there were others who followed his footsteps. Only this time they did not intent on speaking “Barok English” it was natural to them. “Keys me” by Alyssa Alano or “We’re brothers forever” by Renaldo Lapuz of American idol are just some of the “naturally in borne” “Barok English” speakers of today. What truly makes them funny is there English. It’s “Barok English” at its finest! They try SO HARD to speak in English, but little did they know that they had forgotten the rules of the English language. All the pronunciation was incorrect; the tenses were mixed and match, everything was all wrong. But I had to say it was damn entertaining!

“Barok English” can be corrected. It may be stressful to correct if you are not used to the language. That is why you should have someone to guide you through. Someone you can ask questions, someone who has a broad knowledge on the language. One more tip I can give is through reading. Reading newspapers, magazines, and books will make a big difference. It will help you gain more knowledge, improve on your vocabulary skills and learn the language much quicker. Don’t just rely on media and the internet as a source of vocabulary words and other information’s. I believe that we can gain more knowledge and increase our vocabulary skills if we just learn the habit of reading. It is really up to the person if he/she is willing to try, everything will be pointless if the person will just read just for the sake of reading. Learn to appreciate and understand what you are reading. With this you become more observant and as you search these unfamiliar words, you will then find out its meaning. Question your self when reading and make the effort to search so the word sticks to your brain. My advice is simple to further improve on the English language simply, READ… READ… READ…

My grand mother's signature dish

(My cousins with our grandparents)

Every family has their own “signature dish” It is a family tradition that has been practiced for years. Normally this dish is simple, anyone can do it but when it comes to flavor the taste is very different. It has a distinct flavor that others cannot imitate. Traditionally these “signature” dishes are passed on from one generation to another generation. It must be preserved and must maintain its original flavor for it to become a true family “signature” dish.

(This is my cousin Missy! with our chef uncle Dann)
When it comes to “signature dishes” my grandmother’s “missy” is the way to go! What exactly is “missy”? Named after my grandmother’s favorite granddaughter Missy, it is a combination of minced ground pork, garlic, red onions, seasoning and salted Chinese beans. What makes it so special is its sauce. It’s very salty yet, when you pair it with old rice or a hot pandesal the saltiness of the dish disappears and a sudden burst of flavors explodes in your mouth.

This dish may seem complicated due to its name. But I assure you, once you have the freshest ingredients and the right utensils, it is the easiest dish to prepare. All you need for this dish are the following: Ground pork, temple beans (Chinese salted beans), red onions, garlic and seasoning (salt and pepper). To prepare this dish is very easy! In a wok pan sauté you red onions and garlic, wait until light brown. Once that is done add in your Chinese beans. Using

(My version of my grandmother's "missy")
the back of a spoon, mash the beans. This is to even out all the flavors in your dish. After giving the beans a good mash add your meat, make sure it gets mixed well then simmer for 20-35 minutes. Check regularly if the meat is getting dry. If it does, just add in some water and that will give it a good sauce consistency. The simmering process is to allow the beans and the other ingredients to incorporate into your meat. After 35 minutes, season to taste with salt and

pepper and plate your dish.
This dish may be very tedious, but trust me once you have done everything in order and you followed every procedure required. All the hard work will payoff! I love this dish because of its simplicity and you can prepare this dish any time of the year. Despite the fact that this dish is packed with flavor, it is also very affordable and perfect for the whole family. I assure you this dish will not disappoint you! This recipe has lived for centuries in our family and will always be a family tradition. So why not try this “signature” dish of ours with your family! Who knows it might be a big hit? Continue to spread this wonderful dish to everyone so that the legacy will live on and on.

(The Eiaw Family)

Who defines me as a person...

(My Family)

If I were to be asked who am I now, I honestly wouldn’t know. But it you ask me who defines me as a person my answer is the people around me. The people around me are my mentors and coaches in life. They are the one’s who molded me and made me who I’ am today.

What I try to do is to learn from people, learn form their mistakes and apply it to my life, I incorporate the good traits and discard the bad ones. With this I become more grounded.

(Wacky with my cousins)
These people are very influential to me, my parents, who has been supporting me in every step of the way, my brother, who is my consultant in life, my relatives, who gives me strength and courage, my teachers, who has structured me and taught me lessons I can never forget, and last but not the least my friends, who has always been there every time I felt down and lonely. These are the people that has made me who I’ am today. Without them I’ am nothing. They make life much easier and they give me reason to live and fight thru the challenges of life. The people around me are my inspiration and therefore a big part of my life. (Christmas with the "Incredibols")

Many people tend to regret there relationships with others, they forget who are the people behind them, but we must keep in mind that these people we love will not always be with us. So take great advantage of them while they are still around show them that you love them and cherish them for the rest of your life. Don’t wait before they are on their death beds. Act quickly! And give love as if there is no tomorrow. (Highschool days)

Wham Burger

Have you ever heard of wham burger? At this time and age, are there still burger places that serve 100% beef? Or burgers that are served hot every time and taste like the real deal? With all of the fast foods chains available in the market, can a burger place like this can still survive? The answer is yes! This burger place is called Wham burger, a burger place where you can bring the entire family and enjoy a delicious yet traditional burger.

You may think that this burger place is very expensive. But no! For as low as P80 you can enjoy what they call “wham burger”, a traditional burger with your traditional condiments. It’s good if you’re feeling a bit cheap and you just want to taste theburger. But, if you’re in the mood to eat a hearty meal try what they call “Kapaw”. A heavily spiced burger that is very big in size and bursting with flavor. This burger can be very spicy so this is not for the faint of heart. For P150 you can enjoy this burger and share it with your friends and see if they can they can take a little
heat.

Wham burger is located in leading malls, particularly in Shangri-la mall and Robinsons Galleria mall. But if your feeling a bit in the mood for a different experience try their main branch in Katipunan. It’s much bigger and they can accommodate more people, perfect for family outings and birthday parties. In addition to this, you can see their wide collection of comic books hanged around the restaurant. And if you’re a bit lucky and the owner is there, he can share with you his personal thoughts on food and comics.

Hungry yet? Well what are you waiting for? I promise you your money will be worth it and you won’t be disappointed. The staff is well trained and they are very friendly and they will personally take care of you if you need anything. So if you’re craving for a good burger that you will never forget, try Wham burger! Where the burgers are always fresh and promises a different dinning experience.

Very Berry Good

In a tropical country like ours, we often get thirsty. And oftentimes we drink softdrinks, powdered juices, energy drinks, etc to quench our thirst. But did you know that when we drink those juices and softdrinks that it is basically made out of sugar and water? So instead of quenching our thirst with those drinks, we tend to thirst more. Because of the high sugar content and in the long run it is bad for you. Diabetes and kidney failure are just some of the sickness you can get from drinking too much bottled juices, softdrinks and energy drinks.

Out in the market today is a place calledFuzion Smoothie café. It is a place where you can have a wide array of fruit smoothies whether alcoholic or non alcoholic they have it all. They also have a food menu. From pasta’s, sandwiches to desserts “IT IS DEE-LISH”! Their sandwiches complement their smoothies perfectly. If you were to ask me what my favorite drink from their menu is, I would recommend trying the drink called “very berry good”. The drink is basically made out of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The good thing about this drink and all their other drinks is, it is made without any ice and without any sugar. Just 100% fruits! Perfect for the health conscious people and for kids as well. For only P99 you can enjoy their regular smoothies and for P129 you can enjoy a large and hearty drink.

What’s so special about this drink and why should you bother buying a P99 drink, where you can get the same satisfaction in a P15-P25 drink? For me, this drink is worth is because it is 100% fresh and it is 100% healthy, so it means it good for you. It gives you vitamins that regular bottled juices cannot give you, it helps detoxify the body and make you feel lighter. What’s P99 compared to hospital bills when you get sick because of drinking too much bottled juices and softdrinks. My advice here is your P99 will go a long way, it is a good investment for your body and you will be healthier. So what are you waiting for? Visit the nearest Fuzion Smoothie café and live a healthier lifestyle.